A joint military and police team has rounded up 18 suspected criminals in a swoop conducted in the Tamale Metropolis.

The swoop took place on Wednesday, September 11. Substances suspected to be narcotics were seized.

The team also impounded eight motorbikes belonging to some suspects who absconded.

In a statement signed by the Northern Region Police Public Relations Officer DSP Yussif Tanko, the swoop was conducted in well-known criminal areas in the Tamale Metropolis including T Poly, Kaladan and Geshunayili.

It further mentioned that the exercise is to ensure regular security operations at locations where criminals gather and plan their activities.

“The exercise will continue at other places outside and within the metropolis to clean the region and ensure that law abiding citizens are not threatened and attacked by criminals,” it stated and called on the citizens to provide the police with the necessary information on hideouts of criminals.

Meanwhile, the Tamale Magistrate Court presided over by His Worship Amadu Seidu has remanded 14 of the suspects into Prison custody.

The remaining four were granted bail.

The suspects were charged with meeting on premises for unlawful purposes contrary to section 155(1) of the criminal offences Act 29/50.

They are to reappear on September 20.